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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A long and eventful life filled with heroism, humor, |
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and an abiding religious faith came to a close with the passing of |
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Ralph Mack Wheat of New Braunfels on September 15, 2006, at the age |
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of 86; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Lufkin on December 22, 1919, Ralph Wheat was |
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a member of the remarkable generation of Americans who weathered |
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the Great Depression and secured the country's victory in World War |
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II, and he possessed the integrity and resolve that marked the best |
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men and women of his time; after coming of age in East Texas during |
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the hard times of the 1930s, he entered the U.S. Army in 1940 and was |
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selected for officer candidate school; he was commissioned as a |
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second lieutenant in 1941, the same year that the United States |
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entered the war, and volunteered for infantry duty; and |
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WHEREAS, Lieutenant Wheat went ashore in Normandy just two |
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days after the initial Allied invasion on D-Day and fought in |
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numerous battles in Europe as part of the "Timberwolf Division" of |
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the 104th Infantry; promoted to company commander, this courageous |
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leader contributed to the American advance toward Germany in 1944, |
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but on a fateful day in Holland, he was seriously wounded and was |
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sent back to the U.S. to recover; and |
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WHEREAS, In a hospital in St. Louis, this valiant soldier met |
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Alma Callahan, a nurse from Iowa; romance took its course, and they |
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were married on April 1, 1945, beginning a union that endured for |
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more than 61 years; and |
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WHEREAS, This loving couple watched their family grow as the |
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years passed, and Mr. Wheat took great pleasure in the time he spent |
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with his wife and children and with members of his extended family; |
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whether at reunions at the "old homestead" in Lufkin or on driving |
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vacations that toured the renowned sights of the United States, he |
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regaled his loved ones with humorous and thrilling tales taken from |
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his own experiences, which have become a beloved part of family |
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lore; and |
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WHEREAS, A lifelong Methodist, Mr. Wheat made sure that the |
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church was at the center of family activities; his full and generous |
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life was further enhanced by the more worldly joys of playing bridge |
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and spending time with his close friends; Ralph Wheat took immense |
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joy in living, and his laughter-filled conversations and positive |
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outlook will continue to inspire all who were fortunate enough to |
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have shared in his love and companionship; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Ralph Mack Wheat and |
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extend deepest condolences to the members of his family: to his |
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wife, Alma Wheat; to his children, Tom Wheat and his wife, Gail |
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Silverstein, Judith Wynn and her husband, John, and John Wheat and |
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his wife, Lisa; to his grandsons, Jay Wheat and his wife, Connie, |
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David Wheat and his wife, Joy, John Stephen Wynn, and Jeff Wynn; to |
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his great-granddaughter, Sophia Wheat; and to his other relatives |
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and friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Ralph Mack |
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Wheat. |